Baseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduit therethrough

ABSTRACT

A baseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduit therethrough for running electrical conduit such as cable wires, stereo wires, and computer wires along a wall structure behind a baseboard molding. The baseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduit therethrough includes a top piece and a bottom piece. The top piece has a longitudinal tongue ridge downwardly extending from a bottom face of the top piece. A bottom piece has a top, a bottom, front and back faces extending between the top and bottom of the bottom piece, and upper and lower portions. The top of the bottom piece has a spaced apart front and back extents upwardly extending therefrom which define a longitudinal groove therebetween. The tongue ridge of the top piece is inserted into the longitudinal groove of the bottom piece. The upper and lower portions of the bottom piece forming a lower shoulder therebetween on the back face of the bottom piece. The lower shoulder of the bottom piece and the bottom face of the top piece define a rear conduit channel therebetween extending along the back face of the bottom piece. The lower portion of the bottom piece has at least one access channel in the back face of the bottom piece and extending between the rear conduit channel and the bottom of the bottom piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to baseboard molding systems and moreparticularly pertains to a new baseboard molding with passage forrunning electrical conduit therethrough for running electrical conduitsuch as cable wires, stereo wires, and computer wires along a wallstructure behind a baseboard molding.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of baseboard molding systems is known in the prior art. Morespecifically, baseboard molding systems heretofore devised and utilizedare known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obviousstructural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designsencompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for thefulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,175,144 by Davison; U.S. Pat.No. Des. 354,733 by Ingraham; U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,284 by Kaplan; U.S.Pat. No. 4,534,147 by Cristell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,900 by Schmidger;and U.S. Pat. No. 1,984,355 by Abbott.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new baseboardmolding with passage for running electrical conduit therethrough. Theinventive device includes a top piece and a bottom piece. The top piecehas a longitudinal tongue ridge downwardly extending from a bottom faceof the top piece. A bottom piece has a top, a bottom, front and backfaces extending between the top and bottom of the bottom piece, andupper and lower portions. The top of the bottom piece has a spaced apartfront and back extents upwardly extending therefrom which define alongitudinal groove therebetween. The tongue ridge of the top piece isinserted into the longitudinal groove of the bottom piece. The upper andlower portions of the bottom piece forming a lower shoulder therebetweenon the back face of the bottom piece. The lower shoulder of the bottompiece and the bottom face of the top piece define a rear conduit channeltherebetween extending along the back face of the bottom piece. Thelower portion of the bottom piece has at least one access channel in theback face of the bottom piece and extending between the rear conduitchannel and the bottom of the bottom piece.

In these respects, the baseboard molding with passage for runningelectrical conduit therethrough according to the present inventionsubstantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of theprior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed forthe purpose of running electrical conduit such as cable wires, stereowires, and computer wires along a wall structure behind a baseboardmolding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofbaseboard molding systems now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a new baseboard molding with passage for runningelectrical conduit therethrough construction wherein the same can beutilized for running electrical conduit such as cable wires, stereowires, and computer wires along a wall structure behind a baseboardmolding.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new baseboard moldingwith passage for running electrical conduit therethrough apparatus andmethod which has many of the advantages of the baseboard molding systemsmentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, oreven implied by any of the prior art baseboard molding systems, eitheralone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a top pieceand a bottom piece. The top piece has a longitudinal tongue ridgedownwardly extending from a bottom face of the top piece. A bottom piecehas a top, a bottom, front and back faces extending between the top andbottom of the bottom piece, and upper and lower portions. The top of thebottom piece has a spaced apart front and back extents upwardlyextending therefrom which define a longitudinal groove therebetween. Thetongue ridge of the top piece is inserted into the longitudinal grooveof the bottom piece. The upper and lower portions of the bottom pieceforming a lower shoulder therebetween on the back face of the bottompiece. The lower shoulder of the bottom piece and the bottom face of thetop piece define a rear conduit channel therebetween extending along theback face of the bottom piece. The lower portion of the bottom piece hasat least one access channel in the back face of the bottom piece andextending between the rear conduit channel and the bottom of the bottompiece.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough apparatus and method which has many of the advantages ofthe baseboard molding systems mentioned heretofore and many novelfeatures that result in a new baseboard molding with passage for runningelectrical conduit therethrough which is not anticipated, renderedobvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art baseboardmolding systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new baseboardmolding with passage for running electrical conduit therethrough whichmay be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture withregard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is thensusceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, therebymaking such baseboard molding with passage for running electricalconduit therethrough economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the priorart some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming someof the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough for running electrical conduit such as cable wires, stereowires, and computer wires along a wall structure behind a baseboardmolding.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough which includes a top piece and a bottom piece. The toppiece has a longitudinal tongue ridge downwardly extending from a bottomface of the top piece. A bottom piece has a top, a bottom, front andback faces extending between the top and bottom of the bottom piece, andupper and lower portions. The top of the bottom piece has a spaced apartfront and back extents upwardly extending therefrom which define alongitudinal groove therebetween. The tongue ridge of the top piece isinserted into the longitudinal groove of the bottom piece. The upper andlower portions of the bottom piece forming a lower shoulder therebetweenon the back face of the bottom piece. The lower shoulder of the bottompiece and the bottom face of the top piece define a rear conduit channeltherebetween extending along the back face of the bottom piece. Thelower portion of the bottom piece has at least one access channel in theback face of the bottom piece and extending between the rear conduitchannel and the bottom of the bottom piece.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough that has an top piece that may be interchanged with othertop pieces to match various baseboard molding upper configurations thatare found in dwelling structures today.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newbaseboard molding with passage for running electrical conduittherethrough that has periodic spaced apart notches that let theelectrical conduit pass through the baseboard molding and out into theliving space of the dwelling structure.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a new baseboard moldingwith passage for running electrical conduit therethrough mounted to awall surface according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic transverse cross sectional view of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic rear perspective view of the present invention toillustrate the rear conduit channel and an access channel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new baseboard molding with passage for running electricalconduit therethrough embodying the principles and concepts of thepresent invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the baseboard molding withpassage for running electrical conduit therethrough 10 generallycomprises a top piece and a bottom piece. The top piece has alongitudinal tongue ridge downwardly extending from a bottom face of thetop piece. A bottom piece has a top, a bottom, front and back facesextending between the top and bottom of the bottom piece, and upper andlower portions. The top of the bottom piece has a spaced apart front andback extents upwardly extending therefrom which define a longitudinalgroove therebetween. The tongue ridge of the top piece is inserted intothe longitudinal groove of the bottom piece. The upper and lowerportions of the bottom piece forming a lower shoulder therebetween onthe back face of the bottom piece. The lower shoulder of the bottompiece and the bottom face of the top piece define a rear conduit channeltherebetween extending along the back face of the bottom piece. Thelower portion of the bottom piece has at least one access channel in theback face of the bottom piece and extending between the rear conduitchannel and the bottom of the bottom piece.

In closer detail, the baseboard molding 10 comprises an elongate toppiece 11 with top and bottom faces 12,13 and front and back faces 14,15extending between the top and bottom faces of the top piece. Preferably,the front and back faces of the top piece are extended generallyparallel to one another with the bottom face 13 of the top pieceextending generally perpendicular to the front and back faces. The topand front faces 12,14 of the top piece may be configured or shaped tohave an exterior surface shaped to match various configurations of topportions of existing and future baseboard moldings. The bottom face ofthe top piece has a downwardly extending longitudinal tongue ridge 16therealong adjacent the front face of the top piece. Preferably, thetongue ridge of the top piece is generally parallel and flush with thefront face of the top piece.

The baseboard molding also comprises an elongate bottom piece 17 havinga top 18, a bottom 19, front and back faces 20,21 extending between thetop and bottom of the bottom piece, and upper and lower portions 22,23.

The top of the bottom piece has a spaced apart and generally parallelfront and back extents 24,25 upwardly extending therefrom. The front andback extents are preferably extended generally parallel to the frontface of the bottom piece. The front and back extents of the bottom pieceeach terminate at an upper edge 26,27 along the respective extent of thebottom piece each preferably lying in generally parallel horizontalplanes with one another. The front and back extents of the bottom piecedefine a longitudinal groove 28 therebetween.

As illustrated in Figures, the tongue ridge of the top piece is insertedinto the longitudinal groove of the bottom piece to joint the top andbottom pieces together. The front face 14 of the top piece preferablyabuts the front extent of the bottom piece. The bottom face 13 of thetop piece preferably abuts the upper edge 27 of the back extent 25 ofthe bottom piece. Even more preferably, the front and back extents ofthe bottom piece each have a height defined between the top of thebottom piece and the upper edge of the respective extent of the bottompiece. Preferably, the height of the front extent 24 of the bottom pieceis greater than the height of the back extent 25 of the bottom piece sothat the front extent rises higher than the back extent to cover aportion of the front face of the top piece.

The baseboard molding is designed for installation in a similar manneras traditional baseboard molding by positioning the baseboard moldingadjacent a wall surface preferably adjacent a floor structure with theback faces of the top and bottom pieces facing the wall structure suchthat the front faces of the top and bottom pieces face outwards from thewall surface. Fasteners may then be extended through the lower portionof the bottom piece to secure the baseboard molding to the wall surface.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the upper and lower portions eachhave a width defined between the front and back faces of the bottompiece. The width of the lower portion 23 of the bottom piece is greaterthan the width of the upper portion 22 of the bottom piece. The frontand back extents of the bottom piece have a width defined between thefront and back faces of the bottom piece. The width of the front andback extents is less than the width of the lower portion of the bottompiece and greater than the width of the upper portion of the bottompiece. An upper width is defined between the front extent 24 of thebottom piece and the back face 15 of the top piece which is preferablyabout equal to the width of the lower portion of the bottom piece sothat the back face of the top piece and a portion of the back face ofthe bottom piece located in the lower portion of the bottom piece lie ina generally common vertical plane.

In an ideal illustrative embodiment, the width of the upper portion ofthe bottom piece is about ¼ inch, the width of the bottom portion of thebottom piece is about ⅝ inch, and the upper width is about ⅜ inch. Insuch an ideal embodiment, the width of each extent is about ⅛ inch andthe space between the front and back extents is about ⅛ inch. Also, inthis ideal embodiment, the height of the bottom piece defined betweenthe bottom of the bottom piece and the upper edge of the front extent isabout 2 and {fraction (27/32)} inches.

The upper and lower portions of the bottom face forming a lower shoulder29 therebetween on the back face of the bottom piece. The lower shoulderof the bottom piece and the bottom face of the top piece define a rearconduit channel 30 therebetween extending along the back face of thebottom piece. Preferably, the lower shoulder of the bottom piece and thebottom face of the top piece lie in substantially parallel verticalplanes with one another.

In use, the baseboard molding for mounting along a bottom of a wallsurface for running conduit 31 such as cable wire, telephone wire,stereo wire and computer wire along the wall surface behind thebaseboard molding. The rear conduit channel is designed for receivingtherein the conduit to permit running of the conduit therealong betweenthe baseboard molding and the wall surface.

The lower portion of the bottom piece has a plurality of spaced apartaccess channels 32 in the back face of the bottom piece and extendingbetween the rear conduit channel and the bottom of the bottom piece toprovide passages into the rear channel from the bottom of the bottompiece. Preferably, the access channels each have a depth defined fromthe back face of the lower portion of the bottom piece to the back faceof the upper portion of the bottom piece such that the rear conduitchannel and the access channels each have vertical wall portions 33,34lying in a common vertical plane with one another. In use, the accesschannels are designed for dropping conduit in the rear conduit channelto the floor structure and for permitting the dropped conduit to beextended beneath the bottom of the bottom piece outwardly into theliving space.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A baseboard molding, comprising: a top piece having alongitudinal tongue ridge downwardly extending from a bottom face ofsaid top piece; a bottom piece having a top, a bottom, front and backfaces extending between said top and bottom of said bottom piece, andupper and lower portions; said top of said bottom piece having a spacedapart front and back extents upwardly extending therefrom; said frontand back extents of said bottom piece defining a longitudinal groovetherebetween; said tongue ridge of said top piece being inserted intosaid longitudinal groove of said bottom piece; said upper and lowerportions of said bottom piece forming a lower shoulder therebetween onsaid back face of said bottom piece; said lower shoulder of said bottompiece and said bottom face of said top piece defining a rear conduitchannel therebetween extending along said back face of said bottompiece; and said lower portion of said bottom piece having at least oneaccess channel in said back face of said bottom piece and extendingbetween said rear conduit channel and said bottom of said bottom piece.2. The baseboard molding of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal tongueridge of said top piece is extending generally flush along a front faceof said top piece.
 3. The baseboard molding of claim 1, wherein saidfront and back extents are extended generally parallel to one another.4. The baseboard molding of claim 2, wherein said front and back extentsof said bottom piece each terminate at an upper edge, wherein said frontand back extents of said bottom piece each have a height defined betweensaid top of said bottom piece and said upper edge of the respectiveextent of said bottom piece, wherein said height of said front extent ofsaid bottom piece is greater than said height of said back extent ofsaid bottom piece.
 5. The baseboard molding of claim 1, wherein saidupper and lower portions each have a width defined between said frontand back faces of said bottom piece, and wherein said width of saidlower portion of said bottom piece is greater than said width of saidupper portion of said bottom piece.
 6. The baseboard molding of claim 5,wherein said front and back extents of said bottom piece have a widthdefined between said front and back faces of said bottom piece, whereinsaid width of said front and back extents is less than said width ofsaid lower portion of said bottom piece and greater than said width ofsaid upper portion of said bottom piece.
 7. The baseboard molding ofclaim 6, wherein an upper width is defined between said front extent ofsaid bottom piece and a back face of said top piece, wherein said upperwidth is about equal to said width of said lower portion of said bottompiece such that said back face of said top piece and a portion of saidback face of said bottom piece located in said lower portion of saidbottom piece lie in a generally common plane.
 8. A baseboard molding formounting along a bottom of a wall surface for running conduit along thewall surface behind the baseboard molding, said baseboard moldingcomprising: a top piece having top and bottom faces and front and backfaces extending between said top and bottom faces of said top piece;said front and back faces of said top piece being extended generallyparallel to one another, said bottom face of said top piece beingextended generally perpendicular to said front and back faces; saidbottom face of said top piece having a downwardly extending longitudinaltongue ridge therealong adjacent said front face of said top piece, saidtongue ridge of said top piece being generally parallel and flush withsaid front face of said top piece; a bottom piece having a top, abottom, front and back faces extending between said top and bottom ofsaid bottom piece, and upper and lower portions; said top of said bottompiece having a spaced apart and generally parallel front and backextents upwardly extending therefrom, said front and back extents beingextended generally parallel to said front face of said bottom piece;said front and back extents of said bottom piece each terminating at anupper edge each lying in generally parallel planes with one another;said front and back extents of said bottom piece each having a heightdefined between said top of said bottom piece and said upper edge of therespective extent of said bottom piece; said height of said front extentof said bottom piece being greater than said height of said back extentof said bottom piece; said front and back extents of said bottom piecedefining a longitudinal groove therebetween; said tongue ridge of saidtop piece being inserted into said longitudinal groove of said bottompiece; said front face of said top piece abutting said front extent ofsaid bottom piece, said bottom face of said top piece abutting saidupper edge of said back extent of said bottom piece; said upper andlower portions each having a width defined between said front and backfaces of said bottom piece, said width of said lower portion of saidbottom piece being greater than said width of said upper portion of saidbottom piece; said front and back extents of said bottom piece having awidth defined between said front and back faces of said bottom piece,said width of said front and back extents being less than said width ofsaid lower portion of said bottom piece and greater than said width ofsaid upper portion of said bottom piece; an upper width being definedbetween said front extent of said bottom piece and said back face ofsaid top piece, said upper width being about equal to said width of saidlower portion of said bottom piece such that said back face of said toppiece and a portion of said back face of said bottom piece located insaid lower portion of said bottom piece lie in a generally common plane;said upper and lower portions of said bottom face forming a lowershoulder therebetween on said back face of said bottom piece; said lowershoulder of said bottom piece and said bottom face of said top piecedefining a rear conduit channel therebetween extending along said backface of said bottom piece, said lower shoulder of said bottom piece andsaid bottom face of said top piece lying in substantially parallelplanes with one another; said rear conduit channel being adapted forreceiving therein conduit to permit running of said conduit therealong;said lower portion of said bottom piece having a plurality of spacedapart access channels in said back face of said bottom piece andextending between said rear conduit channel and said bottom of saidbottom piece to provide passages into said rear channel from said bottomof said bottom piece; and said access channels each having a depthdefined from said back face of said lower portion of said bottom pieceto said back face of said upper portion of said bottom piece such thatsaid rear conduit channel and said access channels each have verticalwall portions lying in a common vertical plane with one another.